Packaging for piece goods

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an essentially hermetic wrapping, in particular a tubular pouch wrapping, comprising two strip-like edge zones of the wrap material that are joined together by sealing, and two incisions 4, 18, 24, 28 are present in at least one of the two said edge zones, the wrap material forming a grip tab between said two incisions by means of which a tear-open region is pulled off when the wrapping is being opened. When a multi-layer wrap material is used of which the layers are selected from the series: paper, unstretched polyolefin foil or layer, aluminum foil, biaxially stretched polypropylene foil, biaxially stretched polyamide foil, biaxially stretched polyethleneterphthalate foil and a sub-assembly of two or three layers of the above materials bonded together with high peel strength, wherein this series the layers of material cited earlier always are nearer the wrapped good than those cited later, then when the wrappings are opened, starting from the incisions 4, 18, 24, 28, the wrap material tears along two approximately mutually parallel lines 8.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns a package for piece goods, which comprises anenvelope formed by an areal, foldable and multilayer wrap of which twostrip-like edge zones are connected together by sealing, preferablycold-sealing, a connection area to form the envelope, a strip-shapedtear-open region of the envelope starting at one of the two strip-likeedge zones to which it extends substantially perpendicularly.

STATE OF THE ART

A package of this kind is known from the published PCT application WO80/02827 (Application No. PCT/AT80/00017) filed by applicant. In thisknown package--which advantageously consists of a two-layer wrapmaterial and which is more or less in the form of a tubular pouch, theside edges of the tear-open region are formed by weakening lines presentin the wrap material and along which the material tears when the packageis opened. The beginning of the strip-like tear-open accessory islocated in a doubling zone of the package, and as regards a tubularpouch therefore for instance at one of its flipper-shaped sealing spots.Because of the weakening lines introduced in special manner in the saiddoubling zone of the package, it can be torn open in problem-free mannerwhile retaining its hermeticity. On the other hand the manufacture ofpackages containing weakening lines is comparatively expensive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hence it is the object of the invention to create a package of theinitially cited kind where the wrap material used in making the packageevinces little or no weakening lines and allows problem-free opening byremoving a strip-like tear-open region.

The basic problem of the invention is solved by the package of theinvention which is characterized in that the wrap material consists ofseveral layers which are selected from the series: paper, unstretchedpolyolefin foil or layer, aluminum foil, biaxially stretchedpolypropylene, biaxially stretched polyamide foil, biaxially stretchedpolyethylene-terephthalate foil, and a sub-assembly of two or threelayers possibly consisting of the above materials, where, in alladjacent different layers in the wrap material the one cited earlier inthe series, and as regards adjacent layers of the same or similarmaterial, the particular thinner one always is closer to the packagedgood, and where the sub-assembly is such that bonding is present betweenits layers which is stronger than that existing between the sub-assemblyand the other layers of the wrap material, and in that the wrap materialcomprises notchings or linear perforations and possibly weakening linesonly inside the strip-like edge zone along the two side boundaries ofthe tear-open region but no weakening line or weaker material outsidethis edge zone, and in that a grip tap is present at the beginning ofthe tear-open region, consisting of same material as the package in theedge zones and being located between the notchings or linearperforations. Regarding packaging including a sub-assembly,advantageously the bonding between the individual layers of thesub-assembly evince peel-strengths 50% at least, preferably at least 70%more than those of the bonding between the sub-assembly and the otherlayers of the package.

Now applicant discovered in surprising manner that precisely as regardsthe above cited material combinations in the package, when removing thetear-open region of the package, starting from the ends of the notchingsor linear perforations, the package will tear even in the absence ofweakening lines along more or less parallel lines, that is, along theconceptual side edges of the tear-open region.

In an advantageous embodiment of the package of the invention, thenotchings or linear perforations go as far at least as the connectionarea or into it.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, same is characterized inthat the beginning of the tear-open region between the connection areaand the free edge of one of the package edge zones shall form the griptab.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the package of sameis characterized in that the free edge of the package the start of thetear-open region is folded at least inside the tear-open region to forma fold.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the package of the invention,same is characterized in that the notchings or perforations start at thefree edge of the package, i.e. from the edge of the fold on thewrap-material edge.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the package of the inventionis characterized in that the seal layer of the connection area insteadof the tear-open region comprises a clearance, in order to form orenlarge the grip tab, in at least one of the two mutually joined wrapmaterial edge zones.

In another advantageous embodiment of the package of the invention, theedge zone which is not the beginning of the tear-open region comprises acut-out starting at the free edge of this edge zone instead of the griptab

In still another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the packageof this invention is characterized in that the seal bonding evinces lesspeel strength inside the tear-open region than elsewhere.

In a series of the above advantageous embodiment of the package of theinvention, the grip tab is formed by the beginning of the strip-liketear-open region. As a result, when the pack is opened, the seal of thetwo mutually connected edge zones shall be peeled open.

In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the package of theinvention on the other hand is characterized in that notchings or linearperforations starting at the wrap-material edges or the edge of the foldat the wrap-material edge are present at both wrap-material edge zonesjoined together by the strip-like connection area, whereby the grip tabis formed by material from both edge zones. Advantageously the locationsof the two notchings or perforations are connected in that edge zonewhere the tear-open region does not start by a linear material weakeningin the wrap material which preferably is located inside the connectionarea of the two strip-like edge zones.

A last advantageous embodiment of the package of the invention ischaracterized in that is assumes the form of a tubular pouch for whichthe two material-wrap edge zones are joined together by their insidesand thereby form the longitudinal seal seam of the tubular pouch, saidseam being folded back on the surface of the wrapping envelope, thetear-open region starting at the edge zone which is outside but abuttingthe folded longitudinal seal seam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the package;

FIG. 2 shows the package in a half open state;

FIG. 3 is a partial top view of a variation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a seal connection with a weakening zone;

FIG. 5 shows the grip tab having a cut out to facilitate handling;

FIG. 6 shows the two wrap material in partial section;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective of a folded over pack;

FIG. 8 is a partial top view of the wrapping;

FIG. 9 shows FIG. 8 but with a ruptured package envelope; and

FIG. 10 shows the package of FIG. 8 in a half open state.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS PERTINENT TO THE INVENTION IN RELATIONTO SEVERAL ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The invention is comprehensively discussed below in relation to theFigures, the wrap material being shown in exaggerated thickness forclarity of exposition.

In the following embodiment, the package is made from a two-layer wrapmaterial. This wrap material when considered starting at the outsideconsists of a printed aluminum foil 0.007 to 0.009 mm thick with aspecific weight of 30 to 100 g/m² and of a deposited cold-bonding layerwith latex base (2 to 7 g/m²). The paper forms the mechanical supportlayer of the compound material and the aluminum forms the layer assuringthe hermeticity of the wrap material.

For each package to be made, two incisions are punched at the packagingmachine at one of the edges of the length of wrap material pulled offthe roll and immediately thereafter, to make the packages, the length ofwrap-material is folded around the continuously advanced piece goods tobe packaged, for instance waffles, their edges being sealed to eachother within a strip-like connection area and the two mutually sealededge zones, which are termed "fins", are so folded back on the packagesurface that the edge zone containing the incisions shall be external.The tube of wrap-material enclosing the packaged piece goods now isprovided with two mutually parallel transverse sealing seams betweenevery two consecutive wrapped piece goods and is divided by severingincisions between said transverse sealing seams into individual tubepouch packages. These transverse seals thereupon form the "flippers" ofthe tube pouch package projecting from the package envelope.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective of a tube pouch package made in thisway for waffles. It indicates the mutually sealed wrap-material edgezones 2 and 3 inside a strip-like connection area 1, which as "fins" arefolded back on the surface of the package envelope. The punchedincisions 4 are present in the external edge zone 2 of the wrap materialand extend from the edge 5 of the edge zone 2 as far as the connectionarea 1. The material of the edge zone 2 forms a grip tab 6 between thesetwo incisions 4 that extends from the edge 5 as far as the connectionarea 1 and is large enough to be seized to open the package. As a resultthe package envelope comprises a strip-like tear-open region 7 of whichthe lateral boundaries are conceptual lines 8 at the package envelopeand forming continuations of the incisions 4.

FIG. 2 shows the package similarly to FIG. 1, however in the half-openstate. It indicates the two zones 10 of the separated cold seal. Whenfurther pulling the tear-open region 7 in the direction of the arrow 9,the opening of the package envelope is enlarged so much that the wrappedgood can be removed without the structure of the package envelope beingdestroyed on account of its having been opened.

Now it was observed that the two-layer wrap-material used in thisembodiment--which when starting from its outside essentially consists ofan aluminum foil and a paper layer (the thin adhesive layers are notconsidered here being a separate layer) will tear approximately alongthe conceptual parallel lines 8 forming the conceptual lateral edges ofthe tear-open region. However this shall not be the case when using awrap material for which the paper layer is outside and the aluminum foilis inside; when opening the otherwise identical package, the wrapmaterial shall tear beginning at the incisions 4 and along two linesintersecting at a more or less acute angle; the opening created in thepackage envelope is quite inadequate.

This behavior is not immediately intelligible. However tests have shownthat as regards multi-layer wrap materials selected from the materialsof the following series, namely paper, unstretched polyolefin foil orlayer (for instance polyethylene--PE), aluminum foil (Alu), a foil ofbiaxially stretched polypropylene (OPP), a foil of biaxially stretchedpolyamide (OPA), a foil of biaxially stretched polyethyleneterephthalate(PET) and a sub-assembly of two or three of the above materials--where,as regards all adjacent different layers in the wrap material, thatwhich is cited earlier in the series, and, as regards adjacent layers ofidentical or similar material the particular thinner one, is nearer thepackaged good--will tear along approximately parallel lines when thepackage is opened. The expression sub-assembly denotes a composite inwhich the bonding between its layers is substantially stronger than thebonding between this sub-assembly and the remaining layers of the wrapmaterial.

Several Examples of material-wrap combinations in wrap-materials arelisted below which are designed as shown in the direction from theoutside to the inside, being furthermore provided with a thin coating ofcold adhesive on the wrapping inside:

    ______________________________________                                                          Relevant Thickness                                                 Layer of Material                                                                        or Sp. Weight                                               ______________________________________                                        1.       OPP          20-40μ                                                        Alu           7-12μ                                               2.       PET          12-20μ                                                        OPP          12-25μ                                               3.       OPP          12-25μ                                                        paper            12-60 g/m.sup.2                                     4.       PET          12-20μ                                                        PE foil      20-70μ                                               5.       PET          12-20μ                                                        Alu           7-12μ                                                        PE foil      20-70μ                                               6.       OPP          12-25μ                                                        Alu           7-12μ                                                        PE foil      20-70μ                                               ______________________________________                                    

Illustratively a wrap material which tears parallel in the wrapping ofthe invention and consisting of the following materials (from theoutside to the inside), is listed below.

    ______________________________________                                               OPP        12-25μ                                                          PE          5-15μ                                                          Alu         7-12μ                                                          OPP        12-25μ                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The first three materials are bound together with a peel strength of 5.3N/15 mm and form a sub-assembly which in turn is bonded to the innermostOPP foil with a peel strength of 2.6 N/15 mm. The said peel strengthseach time denote the average tear strength in N/15 mm as carried out bytesting described in VERPACKUNGS-RUNDSCHAU of September 1978, pp 72-3.

Several variations of the package of the invention are described belowin relation to FIGS. 3 through 5, wherein opening is facilitated furtherby resorting to special steps.

FIG. 3 is a partial top view of a variation of the package of FIG. 1,the package envelope being shown broken up in the tear-open region 7. Tofacilitate opening, the seal layer 11 of the connection area 1 comprisesa clearance 12 whereby the seal layer 11 in this instance is narrowedand therefore peeling the tear-open region 7 during opening is madeeasier. Besides this step widens the grip tab.

FIG. 4 is a representation similar to FIG. 3 but shows anotherembodiment mode where the seal connection evinces a weakening zone 13 inthe tear-open region 7, so that, when opening, the pealing of thetear-open region is facilitated. This weakening zone 13 preferably maybe implemented in that the cold bond coating evinces illustratively inat least one of the edge zones 2 or 3 adhesive-free spots arrayed in aregular grid, thereby reducing the peeling strength of the sealconnection.

FIG. 5 is a representation similar to FIG. 3 of a further embodimentvariation of the package. In this case, to facilitate handling the griptab, a cut-out 14 is provided in the lower edge zone 3, starting fromlatter's edge 5'. Preferably the cutouts 14 are punched out of the edgeof the incoming length of wrap material simultaneously with theimplementation of the incisions 4.

In another variation of the package of the invention, the incisions 4may be replaced by notchings in the wrap material that start also at thewrap-material edge 5. However the implementation of such incisions as arule is costlier on account of the punching wastes than when punchingmerely through, but in general the handling of the grip tab is madeeasier by these notchings.

FIG. 6 shows the two wrap-material edges in partial section along one ofthe two incisions for a variation of the package of FIG. 1. The upperedge zone 15 that is the beginning of the tear-open region is longerthan the lower edge zone 16 and at its free wrap-material edge evinces afold 17 fixed in place by cold sealing. The incisions 18 extend over theentire fold 17 as far as into the connection area 19 at the upper edgezone 15. The fold 17 therefore forms an especially easily handled griptab between the two incisions 18.

When making this package, the fold 17 is continuously bent over andaffixed by sealing to one edge of the length of wrap-material pulled offthe roll immediately before the package machine, whereafter the twoincisions 18 are introduced. The further manufacture of the package thentakes place in a manner similar to that described in relation to FIG. 1.

However the package of the invention also may be advantageously variedto differ from a tubular pouch package. FIG. 7 is a section, i.e. apartial perspective of a fold-over package of the kind used mainly forgoods to be completely baked, for instance waffles. This packagecomprises a wrap envelope made of an areal, foldable wrap material, withtwo edge zones 20 and 21 overlapping mutually and being connected toeach other in a connection area 22 by means of an adhesive layer 23. Twoincisions 24 are provided in the overlapping edge zone 20 and extendfrom the wrap-material edge 25 as far as into the connection area 22, agrip tab 26 being formed between the two incisions 24. The wrapping isopened similar to the case relating to FIGS. 1 and 2 by pulling the griptab 26 in the direction of the arrow 27.

A last and advantageous variation of the package of the invention,namely in the form of a tubular pouch, is discussed below in relation toFIGS. 8 through 10. As regards this package, the two incisions 28 arepresent in the two joined edge zones 29 and 30. FIG. 8 is a partial topview of the wrapping and FIG. 9 is a similar representation, however init the tear-open region is replaced by the ruptured package envelope.The lower edge zone 30 comprises a weakening line 32 inside theconnection area between the two incisions and within the seal layer 31,said line 32 being parallel to said layer 31 and consisting for instanceof several short perforations separated by bridges of material. Whenmaking the package, the incisions 28 and the weakening line 32 arepunched into the length of wrap material immediately before it is fed tothe wrapping machine.

In this wrapping variation the material of both edge zones 29, 30 in thearea between the two incisions 28 forms the grip tab which when beingpeeled entails tearing open the wrap material along the weakening line32. Thereupon the opening takes place while peeling off the residualarea 33 of the seal connection and with further tearing of the wrapmaterial along mutually approximately parallel lines similarly to thecase described in relation to FIG. 2. FIG. 10 shows this package as aperspective and in the half opened state.

COMMERCIAL APPLICABILITY

The package of the invention is substantially hermetic and easily openedand can be used, preferably in the form of a tubular pouch package, topackage chocolate, waffles or the like.

We claim:
 1. A package for piece goods comprising a foldable, multilayerwrap material having two strip-like edge zones which are joined togetherin a connection area and cold sealed to form an envelope, said envelopeincluding a strip-like tear open area starting from one of the twostrip-like edge zones and extending essentially perpendicularly to thisedge zone, wherein the wrap material is comprised of one of more layersof material selected from the group consisting of paper, unstretchedpolyolefin, aluminum foil, biaxially stretched polypropylene, biaxiallystretched polyamide and biaxially stretched polyethyleneterephthalateand a sub-assembly of two or three layers of these materials, whereinthe bonding between the layers of the sub-assembly is substantiallystronger than the bonding between the sub-assembly and the remaininglayers of the wrap material and wherein said cold seal exhibits a peelstrength inside the tear-open area which is less than in other parts ofthe connection area.
 2. The package defined in claim 1, wherein asregards all adjacent, different layers in the wrap material, thematerial which is to be closer to the piece goods is the material whichappears first in the following list: paper, unstretched polyolefin,aluminum foil, biaxially stretched polypropylene, biaxially stretchedpolyamide and biaxially stretched polyethylene-terephthalate.
 3. Thepackage defined in claim 1, wherein as regards adjacent layers of thesame or similar material, the layer which is to be closer to thepackaged piece goods is thinner than the other layer of the same orsimilar material in the package.
 4. The package defined in claim 1wherein the strip-like tear open area has weakening lines inside saidedge zone.
 5. The package defined in claim 1, further comprising a griptab at the beginning of the tear-open area between said notchings orlinear perforations.
 6. The package defined in claim 1, wherein thenotchings or linear perforations start at the free edge of the wrapmaterial.
 7. The package defined in claim 1, wherein the bonding betweenindividual layers of the sub-assembly exhibit peel strengths at least50% higher than the peel strengths of the bonding between thesub-assembly and the remaining layers of the wrap material.
 8. Thepackage defined in claim 1, wherein the notchings or linear perforationsextend at least to the connection area.
 9. The package defined in claim8, wherein the notchings or linear perforations extend into theconnection area.
 10. The package defined in claim 5, wherein thebeginning of the tear-open area between the connection area and a freeedge of one of the wrap material edge zones forms the grip tab.
 11. Thepackage defined in claim 1, wherein a free wrap-material edge is bentback at least inside the tear-open area to form a fold at the edge zonewhich is the beginning of the tear-open area.
 12. The package defined inclaim 5 wherein a portion of the connection area is unsealed in thetear-open area to form or enlarge the grip tab.
 13. The package asdefined in claim 1, wherein said seal is formed by an adhesive.
 14. Thepackage as defined in claim 1, further comprising notchings or linearperforations present on both edge zones of the wrap material joinedtogether at the connection area, such that material from both edgeszones forms a grip tab.
 15. The package defined in claim 1, wherein saidpackage is in the form of a tubular pouch and wherein said two edgezones of the wrap material are joined together along their insidesurfaces to form the longitudinal seam of said tubular pouch, said seambeing folded back on the surface of the package and the tear-open areastarting at the edge zone which is on the outside of the folded-backlongitudinal seam.
 16. A package for piece goods comprising a foldable,multi-layer wrap material having two strip-like edge zones which arejoined together in a connection area and sealed to form an envelope,said envelope including strip-like tear open area starting from one ofthe two strip-like edge zones and extending essentially perpendicularlyto this edge zone, said wrap material comprising one or more layers ofmaterial selected from the group consisting of paper, unstretchedpolyolefin foil or layer, aluminum foil, biaxially stretchedpolypropylene foil, biaxially stretched polyamide foil, biaxiallystretched polyethyleneterephthalate foil and a subassembly of two orthree layers of these materials, wherein as regards all adjacent,different layers in the wrap material, the material which is to becloser to the packaged piece goods is the material which appears firstin said group and as regards adjacent layers of the same or similarmaterial, the layer which is to be closer to the packaged piece goods isthinner than the adjacent layer of the same or similar material, whereinthe bonding between the layers of the sub-assembly is substantiallystronger than the bonding between the sub-assembly and the remaininglayers of the wrap material, said tear open area having two lateralboundaries along which notchings or linear perforations are providedonly inside the strip-like edge zone such that outside the strip-likeedge zone there are no notchings or perforations.
 17. The packagedefined in claim 16, further comprising a grip tab at the beginning ofthe tear-open area between said notchings or linear perforations. 18.The package defined in claim 10, wherein the strip-like tear open areahas weakening lines inside said edge zone.
 19. The package as defined inclaim 16, wherein the notchings or linear perforations start at the freeedge of the wrap material.
 20. The package defined in claim 16, whereinthe bonding between individual layers of the sub-assembly exhibit peelstrengths at least 50% higher than the peel strengths of the bondingbetween the sub-assembly and the remaining layers of the wrap material.21. The package defined in claim 16, wherein the notchings or linearperforations extend at least to the connection area.
 22. The packagedefined in claim 21, wherein the notchings or linear perforations extendinto the connection area.
 23. The package defined in claim 17, whereinthe beginning of the tear-open area between the connection area and afree edge of one of the wrap material edge zones forms the grip tab. 24.The package defined in claim 16, wherein a free wrap-material edge isbent back at least inside the tear-open area to form a fold at the edgezone which is the beginning of the tear-open area.
 25. The packagedefined in claim 17, wherein a portion of the connection area isunsealed in the tear-open area to form or enlarge the grip tab.
 26. Thepackage as defined in claim 16, wherein said seal is formed by anadhesive.
 27. The package as defined in claim 16, further comprisingnotchings or linear perforations present on both edge zones of the wrapmaterial joined together at the connection area, such that material fromboth edge zones forms a grip tab.
 28. The package defined in claim 16,wherein said package is in the form of a tubular pouch and wherein saidtwo edges zones of the wrap material are joined together along theirinside surfaces to form the longitudinal seam of said tubular pouch,said seam being folded back on the surface of the package and thetear-open area starting at the edge zone which is on the outside of thefolded-back longitudinal seam.
 29. A package for piece goods comprisinga foldable, multi-layer wrap material having two strip-like edge zoneswhich are joined together in a connection area and sealed by an adhesiveto form an envelope, said envelope including strip-like tear open areastarting from one of the two strip-like edge zones and extendingessentially perpendicularly to this edge zone, said wrap materialcomprising one or more layers of material selected from the groupconsisting of paper, unstretched polyolefin foil or layer, aluminumfoil, biaxially stretched polypropylene foil, biaxially stretchedpolyamide foil, biaxially stretched polyethyleneterephthalate foil and asubassembly of two or three layers of these materials, wherein asregards all adjacent, different layers in the wrap material, thematerial which is to be closer to the packaged piece goods is thematerial which appears first in said group and as regards adjacentlayers of the same or similar material, the layer which is to be closerto the packaged piece goods is thinner than the adjacent layer of thesame or similar material, wherein the bonding between the layers of thesub-assembly is substantially stronger than the bonding between thesub-assembly and the remaining layers of the wrap material, and tearopen area having two lateral boundaries along which notchings or linearperforations are provided only inside the strip-like edge zone such thatoutside the strip-like edge zone there are not notchings or perforationsand wherein said seal exhibits a peel strength inside the tear-open areawhich is less than in other parts of the connection area.